Graduate Student Research

Find out what research looks like in your graduate program: 

• What methods courses are required in your program?
• What courses include research?
• Which professors in your program are involved with research; where is the research taking place?

Explore possible research opportunities through your program:

• Look on the program website to gain information.
• Explore faculty webpages to better understand their research interests, publication histories and educational backgrounds.
• Talk to professors and other graduate students about the research they are doing. Make use of office hours!

Attend Student Scholars Day:

• Student Scholars Day is a day-long event held the Wednesday in mid-April.  It provides opportunities for students at GVSU to showcase their research to the University community.
• Attend Career Center events to identify internships in the west Michigan region and beyond that are relevant to your program and professional field.

Talk to your faculty advisor and professors about research and how to get involved:

• Ask your faculty advisor how research may fit with your graduate program and career goals. Some graduate programs or careers require research experience, but some do not. 
• Ask professors what research projects they are currently working on or have done in the past.
• Ask possible research mentors what skills/attributes they look for in graduate research students.
• Ask how you could prepare to do research in the next year.

Get involved with a research project by working with a faculty mentor

• Working with a faculty member can be beneficial for applying to continuing advanced study or for your future career (e.g., gaining letters of recommendation).

Consider applying for the Presidential Research Grant.

Become involved with a research project or research internship beyond GVSU. 

• Make sure to consider the full range of research opportunities.

Present at Student Scholars Day

• Student Scholars Day provides the space for students to showcase their work, including oral presentations, discussion and panel sessions, fine arts exhibits and performances, and poster presentations.

Attend or present at a professional conference within your discipline

• Presenting research at a professional conference provides an opportunity to share your findings and learn about research that is being conducted by others within your field of interest.

Submit your work for publication

• Publishing work in journals is a great way for researchers to share their findings with the academic community.